Shloka 17
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम् । सद्यः प्रीतिकरं हृद्यं बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम्
sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṃ paraṃ smṛtam | sadyaḥ prītikaraṃ hṛdyaṃ balabuddhivivardhanam
सर्व दानांमध्ये अन्नदान श्रेष्ठ मानले आहे। ते तत्क्षणी आनंद देणारे, हृदयास प्रिय, आणि बल व बुद्धी वाढविणारे आहे।
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dharmic teaching as preserved in the Umāsaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: The verse aligns with the Kāśī-Annapūrṇā/Viśveśvara ethos: sustaining beings through food as the foremost dāna; however no specific Jyotirliṅga is named here.
Significance: Frames annadāna as the most immediate, universally beneficial puṇya—supporting life and dharma; in Siddhānta, such puṇya purifies conduct and supports receptivity to Śiva-bhakti.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It elevates annadāna (feeding others) as the foremost dharmic act because it directly sustains life and supports sattvic well-being—an outward expression of compassion aligned with Shaiva dharma.
In Saguna Shiva worship, offering food and supporting devotees mirrors service to Shiva present in all beings; annadāna becomes a practical extension of pūjā, turning devotion into compassionate action.
Perform annadāna as a vow (vrata)—especially on Shiva days—by offering naivedya and then feeding devotees and the needy, while mentally dedicating the merit to Lord Shiva with the Panchakshara spirit of surrender.